The word “Encourage” from the Greek is translated in various versions as exhort, admonish, teach, beg, beseech, console, comfort. Condensed, they mean to help build up one another. Let’s look at a few of the characteristics of an encourager to give us a better idea of how we all should be:
- AN ENCOURAGER HELPS PROVIDE HOPE – Encouragement is giving someone hope that they can do what they need to do. It’s said that, when we say flattering things to people they will feel good seventeen minutes. Flattery doesn’t last because there is no depth to it. Biblical encouragement must have the truth of God in it. Paul’s letter to the church at Antioch gave hope: “The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message” (Acts 15:31). (1 Thessalonians 4:18) reads: “Therefore encourage each other with these words”.
- AN ENCOURAGER CONSIDERS OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES – The admonition from Paul is, “In humility consider others better than ourselves. Each should look not only to our own interest, but also to the interest of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). To encourage others we must be interested in them. It’s easy, in today’s culture, for us to become totally absorbed in ourselves. As an encourager, we must try to see life from the perspective of others, and especially those struggling. The best encouragers are those who have walked the path others are walking or can put them-selves in their shoes. Paul seemed to know this when he wrote: “Bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2).
- AN ENCOURAGER SERVES – We must never overlook or try to excuse ourselves from Jesus’ statement: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me”. Serving is doing. Serving is love in action. Feelings do not encourage until they serve. An encourager is one who sees a need and has compassion and then chooses to help in whatever way he can. Seldom is a visit, a meal, a gift of money, housework, taking the children for a few hours, etc, out of place or un-wanted. Often people will not say: “Yes, I need this, or here is something you can do for me”. We must take the initiative.
A healthy church is one that is full of encouragers who do out of love for their brethren and their fellow man. Thank God for those here who encourage by their words and their actions and may God help us all to become the encouragers God would have us be.